TCA Interview: Asia’s First New York Film Academy Campus Opens in Almaty
On 27 September, the New York Film Academy Kazakhstan (NYFA) opened the first branch of the world-renowned American film school in Central Asia. For young Kazakhstani and foreign students, this presents a unique opportunity to gain top-tier knowledge for future careers in the industry. The new campus was established through a partnership between Almaty University of Energy and Communications (Energo University) and the Dala Edge Creative Technology Park, with the opening ceremony attended by Michael Young, President and CEO of the New York Film Academy, and Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan. Gani Nygymetov, Rector of Energo University, spoke to The Times of Central Asia about the opportunities and prospects of NYFA Kazakhstan. TCA: How did the idea to establish the New York Film Academy Kazakhstan campus in Kazakhstan come about? GN: Energo University has been in existence for over 50 years and is one of the leading technical universities in Central Asia, specializing in engineering and energy. In February this year, we presented a new development strategy that includes a mission to remain a leader in energy education, while also expanding into telecommunications, IT, and techno-creative programmes. To achieve these goals, the 16-hectare Dala Edge Creative Technology Park was created near Almaty. Now, a branch of NYFA has opened there, its first campus in Asia. Previously, NYFA campuses were only located in Florence, New York, and Los Angeles. I am confident that the opening of the campus in Kazakhstan will give an additional impetus to the development of creative industries in the region and enable us to train specialists of international calibre. The Creative Technology Park will become a hub for professional training and innovative projects and will support the integration of students and professionals into the film, animation, and game design industries. TCA: Who teaches at NYFA Kazakhstan, exclusively American specialists, or are local experts also involved in the programme? What subjects are taught? GN: American specialists teach students in film directing, screenwriting, acting, 3D animation, visual effects, and game design. All programmes meet international standards, instruction is in English, and modern tools and methods used in the United States are employed. Inviting NYFA to Kazakhstan is part of a strategy to develop the country's academic potential. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education, led by Minister Sayasat Nurbek, is actively attracting leading international universities. Today, more than 40 renowned foreign universities have opened branches in Kazakhstan. This allows talented students to receive high-quality education at home and also attracts students from other countries in the region. Partnerships with international universities, including Anhalt University (Germany), which has also opened a branch at our university, and NYFA, help set high standards of education and expand opportunities for students. In the coming years, we plan to launch our own digital media faculty. [caption id="attachment_37086" align="aligncenter" width="353"] Gani Nygymetov, Rector of Energo University; image: Energo University[/caption] TCA: How many students are currently studying at NYFA Kazakhstan? Are there plans to expand the number of disciplines? GN: NYFA...
